Improvement in earth-closets



3 itied (States anni Ww JAMES ADDISON DRAKE,YOF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,ASSIGNOR TO l WILLIAMIt O. CLARK, OF SAME PLAOE.

Letters Patent No. 103,029, dated May 17, 1.870.

moon-* IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-CLOSETS.

*hwg- I, JAMES ADDISON DnAKn, ofthe city of New 'Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented a-certain Improvement in EartliOlosets orCommodes, which I denominate a Family Closet, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a method of depositing dry earth or otherequivalent deodorizing-substancc, in regulated and sudicient quantity,with each deposit of excrement, the two being mingled together l "bymeansof an endless apron, so arranged as to be moved by each'oceupantofthe closet, by simply pulling a cord within reach of theseat,`precisely far enough to precipitate the deposit of excrement withenough dry earth to deodorize it, and also so as never to move except inthe right direct-ion to ecct vsuch precipitation, my object beingtoprovide a simi ple and cheap mechanical arrangement for applying dryearthor its equivalent .to the purpose of deodorizing human excrement,and thus to destroy the bale-r ful elfeets of the gases which exhaletherefrom when not so treated, and `to adapt it at once to fertilizingpurposes. i My improvement will be instantly understood on a referenceto the drawing, whereon- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a familycloset in whichit has been introduced, and

Figure'2, a sectional view of the same closet on line a b of fig. 1.

On the drawing- `A is the seat, inwhich a properly-formed opening, B, isprovided, in the ordinary manner.

Below this opening, for some distancedown, a megallig shield, O, issecured, substantially as shown at The object ofths shield is to securethe fall of `the excreta within circumscribed limits, or on an endlessapron, D, on which the deodorizing agent constantly rests abouttwoinches thick.

This apron is `mounted on rollers E F, which have their journals inmetallic strips G, that are secured in any proper manner to the frame-ofthe closet.

`The rollers E F areso placed that the apron D, in its front halfsection, comes under the line of the descent of the excreta from thosewho occupy the seat, so as to secure the fall of the same on the apronwith unfailing certainty. The apron D is morcd by means of acord, H,preferably of wire rope, galvanized, which, fastened to a knob, H, ,thatis sustained on the frame at H', extends down through. a small hole toroller E, around which it is wrapped onel turn, and then below this'roller to a weight, l. v l

The length of the cord H should be so adjusted that the space betweenthe weight I and the roller E will be sniiicient'to move thc apron justfar enough to precipitate or dump the excreta, as well aslthe properquantity of dryearth along with it, for it will be observed that, hypulling up the cord by means of the knob H, the roller E, in consequenceof the encircling grasp of said cord around it, will be rotated in thatdirection which will carry the apron forward sufficiently to effect thatobject whenever the length of the cord below roller E is properly adjusted. The weight-I will carryback the cord to its normal position the-1noment the operator lets go the knob H, without rotating the roller E,or moving the apron, because, there being no tension ou the cord abovethe said roller, there can be noeffect produced by the movement of thecord in a downward direction. But, as an additional preventive against abackward movement ofthe apron D, I may employ a catch, c, in the natureof a pawl, (see lig. 2,) which is so constructed and adj usted'that,while intcrposing no resistance to the movement of said apron in theright direction, it will eifectually check or prevent any backward rnovement thereof by a positive impingement cr biting oi its front edgeagainst the apron over roller F, the said pawl being provided with aseries of short teeth, or in any other manner adapted to accomplish thisobject.

Above the apron D, and of any proper form, a hop per-like recipient fora suicient supply of dry earth is placed, as shown at K, iig. 2,

The bottom of the hopper Amay consist of a door, L, placed just abovethe apron, in which an aperture over the latter is made, as shown; orthe sides of the hopper may converge toward each other from the topdownwardly, so as to leave an opening at the bottom slightly less thanthat portion of' the apron'on which the dry earth falls.

The sides of the hopper, the shield being the front side, subser-ve thepurpose of holding the earth on the apron, and of preventing too much ofthe same from being precipitated at any one operation. 4 Y

The earth is put into the hopper through openings thatare covered hy thelidsM M', as shown at 1 2,'

iig. 1.

at 3. I

A box receptacle for paper, Svc., is placed on the right of the seat, asshown at 4, having a cover, 5, while an opening for urinat-ing purposesis placed on the left-hand side, and provided with a cover, (i.

A terrace or step-like projection at the front of thc closet provides afooting for adults when using the closet, by means of a lid, 7, and, atthe same tiine, a convenient se'att'or young children, as shown at O,and a box, 1, for dry earth, which may/be put on' the exerement by thenurse, by hand, or by means of aA small properly-formed implement.

Instead of having the apron as shown, I may attach A hinged cover forthe seat is provided, as shown upon the outer surface thereof n seriesof'thiu metal called, commode, ie easily portable, and hence nay bcplztforms, so arranged that each onelof them will project a few inchesbeyond or in front of fohe'roller E, as the apron moves forward, beforeinclinlng downwardly, and thus precipitate a. sncient quantity of ltheearth with the feces on it., at each operation, a. correspomL ingdistance in advance of said roller. vIn this case, if any be foundnecessaryl, 1a-different' device from the catch or pnwl e must heemployed to prevent; the apron from movingbackward, and the apron may beplaced n little back of the position .it occupies on the draw ings.

My family closet, or, as il; may more properly be carried to any part ofthe house, at pleasure. It; is simple, cheap, and not liable to get; ontof order.

I claim als my invention- I The apron D, in connection with a cord, H",pro'- vided with 'a knob, H, and a. weight, I, in combination with a.pnwl, c, when these-parts are constructed, arranged, and operate asherein described, for the purpose set forth. l

JAMES ADDISON BRAKE. Witnesses:

H. NJENKINS, RUFUS B. RHODES.

